Let’s Get Cooperative: A Deep Dive into Halo, Resident Evil, and the World of Co-op Gaming
Looking to team up with your friends for gaming adventures? You’ve found the right spot. Let’s explore the world of co-op gaming. We focus on two giants: Halo and Resident Evil. We’ll also touch on other co-op games. Sharing a screen can lead to epic fun or amusing disasters.
Halo: Squad Up for Some Sci-Fi Mayhem
Halo. The name evokes thoughts of Spartans, plasma rifles, and battles against aliens. Can you bring your whole crew? Yes! Some Halo titles support this. If you want four-player co-op in the campaign, a few Spartans await your choice.
Which Halo Games Support 4-Player Co-op?
Gather your fireteam for these Halo games ready for four-player campaigns:
- Halo 3: The classic. Master Chief and Arbiter, plus two more friends. It’s chaos and glorious chaos.
- Halo 3: ODST: Step into the shoes of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers. Explore a ruined city with your squad. Gritty and intense, even better with four.
- Halo: Reach: Experience the fall of Reach. This prequel boasts a powerful story and lets four comrades fight against overwhelming odds. Lots of aliens to shoot.
- Halo 4: Continue Master Chief’s journey and solve new mysteries with friends. The story deepens, and the action escalates.
- Halo Infinite: The latest chapter. Explore a vast ringworld and face the Banished threat. Four-player co-op returns in the modern era.
If you’re organizing a Halo LAN party or an online gaming session, these are your titles for maximum player mayhem.
Split-Screen: The Two-Player Tango
Now, let’s discuss split-screen. The joy of having a buddy next to you, fighting over the sniper rifle. Halo supports split-screen, but there’s a catch for four players. Think of it as cozy couch gaming, but not too cozy for four. Halo 3, ODST, Reach, and Halo 4 limit split-screen to two players. Want full four-player action on the same couch? Get creative with extra consoles and online play.
However, there’s a bright side for those who love split-screen, especially on Halo Infinite for Xbox Series X or S. While campaign split-screen caps at two, up to four players can join in split-screen multiplayer. If you seek local multiplayer chaos, Infinite has your back!
Getting the Full Squad Together: 4-Player Setup
You want a four-player campaign. How do you make it work? Here’s the plan:
- Console Count: Need at least two Xbox consoles. No magical split-screen campaign for these older games.
- Controller Chaos: Gather up to four controllers. Ensure they are synced and ready.
- Halo Time: Start your chosen Halo game – Halo 3, ODST, Reach, or Halo 4. Halo Infinite supports 4-player online co-op.
- Multiplayer Magic: Navigate to the multiplayer section of the game. This is where co-op begins.
- Host with the Most: Player one becomes the host! Sign in and prepare.
- Join the Party: Controllers two to four sign in. Press the menu button to bring up the sign-in prompt.
- System Link or Online Shenanigans: Link those consoles! Use system link if in the same room or go online if far apart.
- Mission Briefing Time: Start your four-player co-op campaign! Get ready for epic moments and friendly fire incidents.
It sounds like setup might take time, but trust me, four Spartans taking on the Covenant is worth the effort.
Meet the Crew: Halo 3 Co-op Characters
Wondering who else you play as in Halo 3 co-op? Here are the named characters for your co-op adventures:
- Player 1: The legend himself, Master Chief John-117. No need for introduction.
- Player 2: The honorable Arbiter Thel ‘Vadam. He fights with humanity.
- Player 3: Usze ‘Taham, an Elite Minor warrior ready for action.
- Player 4: N’tho ‘Sraom, another Elite Minor. Your squad gains alien firepower.
You’re not just generic Spartans. You’re part of a deadly team in Halo 3’s co-op mode.
Beyond 4-Player: Other Halo Co-op Modes
While four-player campaign co-op is amazing, there are other co-op flavors in Halo:
- Halo 1 and 2: The original adventures support two-player co-op, both in split-screen and online.
- Halo Wars 2: Fans of strategy enjoy two-player co-op in the campaign. Lead armies and conquer!
- Firefight Frenzy: Firefight is gameplay with waves of enemies. In Halo 3: ODST and Reach, you can have up to eight players.
- Halo Infinite Fireteams: Halo Infinite lets Fireteam sizes reach 24 players.
Co-op comes in many forms in Halo. Whether you want focused campaigns or massive multiplayer Firefight, there’s a mode for your crew.
The Curious Case of Halo 5: No Co-op?
Now we discuss the missing Spartan: Halo 5: Guardians. This game removed offline multiplayer entirely. No split-screen co-op campaign. No local multiplayer options. Nothing.
Why? The reasons seem unclear, but rumors hint at rushed development and engine issues. Some say the code is so complex that porting it to PC is hard. Adding split-screen is out of the question. Halo 5 remains online-only, making its absence of local multiplayer odd for the franchise.
Resident Evil: Survival is Better with a Buddy
From sci-fi shooters to survival horror: Resident Evil. Zombies, jump scares, and threats lurking around corners. Can you face the terror with a friend? Yes! Some Resident Evil entries support co-op play.
Resident Evil 6: The Co-op Extravaganza
Resident Evil 6 embraced co-op fully. This game features four campaigns, designed for co-op action. Think thrilling moments, fast gameplay, and a buddy to protect you (or accidentally shoot during zombie encounters).
Three campaigns in RE6 follow intense action and teamwork similar to RE5. The fourth one, Ada Wong’s story, offers co-op too. In certain moments like Jake’s story intersecting with Chris’s campaign in Chapter 2, you can have four players engaging in online co-op chaos.
Beyond campaigns, Resident Evil 6 includes modes like Survivors, Predator, and Siege, benefiting up to six players online, using maps from Mercenaries Mode. RE6 serves as a zombie-slaying co-op playground.
Resident Evil 5: Setting the Co-op Standard
Before RE6 fully…
In the co-op world, there was Resident Evil 5. This game helped make co-op popular in Resident Evil. It introduced a partner, Sheva Alomar, who joined Chris Redfield, creating a buddy-cop horror style.
RE5’s co-op became popular. Friends tackled infected hordes together. They shared ammo and revived each other. It added depth to the Resident Evil experience. Some purists thought it shifted toward action over horror. Still, the co-op was fun.
Co-op Heroes and Solo Survivors: RE Games with and without Co-op
Not all Resident Evil games are the same regarding co-op. Here’s a quick look:
- Co-op Resident Evil Games:
- Resident Evil 5 & 6: These are the strong co-op titles.
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City: It differs. This squad-based shooter features four-player co-op. It’s about action, not slow horror, but still co-op RE.
- Resident Evil Outbreak: A classic! Outbreak allowed four players to cooperate for survival. It emphasized teamwork and resource management.
- Solo Resident Evil Games (No Co-op):
- Resident Evil 4 Remake: Like the original, the RE4 Remake is a single-player game. Leon’s quest is a solo experience.
- Hogwarts Legacy: Yes, Hogwarts Legacy. Some seek co-op in every title. But this is a single-player RPG. No co-op here.
If you’re after co-op zombies, play RE5, RE6, Operation Raccoon City, or Outbreak. For a solo scare, try RE4 Remake, RE7, RE8, and more.
More than Just Zombies: Other RE Co-op Tidbits
Here are some extra Resident Evil co-op facts:
- RE6’s Dual Nature: Resident Evil 6 blends slow-burn horror with action. It feels like a Frankenstein monster in tone, but it offers variety.
- RE7’s Solo Terror: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard returns to single-player horror. You are Ethan Winters in a terrifying first-person view. No co-op buddies here, just pure dread.
Resident Evil co-op varies. It ranges from action-packed RE6 to the team survival of Outbreak. Choose your adventure based on your horror preference.
Venturing Beyond: Other Co-op Gems and Split-Screen Surprises
Halo and Resident Evil are just the start of co-op games. The gaming world holds numerous cooperative options. Let’s look at some other co-op types:
General Co-op Fun: Games for Teamwork
Many games feature co-op modes, usually zombie survival or horde modes. Think “zombie co-op mode” that allows four players to join online or via LAN. These modes focus on teamwork, survival, and defeating waves of enemies. Ideal for a casual co-op night.
Split-Screen Sadness: Games That Ditch the Couch Co-op
Not all games support split-screen. Payday 2 lacks official split-screen support. Some may try mods or workarounds, but it’s not a native feature. In today’s online world, split-screen seems to decline in some titles. Let’s honor the lost art of couch co-op.
Split-Screen Bliss: Games That Embrace the Couch Party
Couch co-op is still alive! Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 offers split-screen options. It allows two players to play split-screen in multiplayer and Blackout modes and ramps up to four players in Zombies mode. As mentioned, Halo Infinite supports up to four-player split-screen multiplayer on Xbox Series X/S. Gather your friends and indulge in some couch co-op chaos.
The co-op gaming world is diverse. Whether you’re a Halo Spartan, a Resident Evil survivor, or exploring other cooperative realms, a game awaits you. Grab your controllers, gather your friends, and prepare to game together!